Bill Text: GA SB471 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Insurance; authorize Insurance Commissioner to establish coalition of other states; alternative policy approval process for comprehensive major medical policies

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-13 - House Second Readers [SB471 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB471-Engrossed.html

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12 LC 28 6094ER

Senate Bill 471

By: Senators Hill of the 32nd and Gooch of the 51st

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 29A of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to individual health insurance coverage, so as to provide for legislative intent; to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to establish a coalition of other states to adopt an alternative policy approval process for comprehensive major medical policies; to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to approve policies for sale in Georgia that comply with such alternative approval process standards under certain circumstances; to provide a definition; to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to promulgate related rules and regulations; to provide for alternative dispute resolution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 29A of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to individual health insurance coverage, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:

"ARTICLE 4

33-29A-50.

(a) The General Assembly seeks to initiate cooperation of like-minded states to create a multistate coalition with reciprocity agreements for approval, offer, sale, rating, including medical underwriting, renewal, and issuance of comprehensive major medical individual and group health insurance policies.

(b) The General Assembly recognizes that insured health policies must be filed in each state for approval and compliance with each separate state's administrative and coverage requirements. The General Assembly believes that a coalition of states with consistent health insurance laws will lower development and distribution costs, making the coalition states a larger attractive market for more rapid introduction of new products and services. In addition, a multistate market with common standards will encourage new insurers to locate and initiate business in the coalition states' market. The increased market size and common state requirements will increase competition among insurers and lower premiums.

33-29A-51.

As used in this article, the term 'comprehensive major medical' means a plan with at least a $1 million coverage lifetime maximum, a cost sharing out-of-pocket maximum no greater than that applicable in any given year to a high deductible health plan as defined under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code with applicable annual indexing, and coverage for at least:

(1) Ambulatory patient services;

(2) Emergency services;

(3) Hospitalization;

(4) Maternity and newborn care;

(5) Mental health and substance use disorder services;

(6) Prescription drugs;

(7) Rehabilitative and wellness services;

(8) Chronic disease management; and

(9) Pediatric services.

33-29A-52.

It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to identify at least four states with insurance laws sufficiently consistent with the laws of this state in order to create an efficient regional or multistate market. The Commissioner shall be authorized to take a lead role in establishing a coalition of other states to adopt an alternative policy approval process for comprehensive major medical policies that utilize a common set of policy approval requirements among the coalition states. The Commissioner shall approve for sale in Georgia comprehensive major medical individual and group policies that have been approved for issuance under the alternative policy approval process in the coalition states where the insurer is authorized to engage in the business of insurance so long as the insurer is also authorized to engage in the business of insurance in Georgia and provided that any such policy meets the requirements established by the Commissioner.

33-29A-53.

(a) The Commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this article.

(b) Any dispute resolution mechanism or provision for notice and hearing in this title shall apply to insurers issuing and delivering plans pursuant to this article."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.